~It's Beginning to Look Alot Like Christmas!~

The decorations are out............






Packages are being delivered......





The gifts have been started - everyone was making a mad dash to get those loved one's items made.........
And even our missionaries were there for a baked potato bar and moral support..... one even ironed for me, but I missed his picture..........



Now the countdown to the Eve of Christmas begins.......

~A Primitive 16-Patch Quilt and Prim Photos~

This is a quilt I have been working on - a customer brought me this and I fell in love with it, the main reason being it has no borders. It is such a simple quilt.

A new rug - finally found something for in front of my kitchen sink:





Just a photo of my favorite reading spot. I still haven't recovered my thrift store find of this settee. If the truth be told, I am scared to death. I may break down and pay someone to do it, rather that do it myself. The fabric was so expensive, I am scared I am going to make a HUGE mistake!



And last, my painted $9 cupboard from Michaels - in my bathroom for storage.


I am getting ready for our trip - just wanted to post some photos before I take off - can't wait to share all the photos from Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio upon my return. Blessings on this Fall Time to you.......

~Tis Some Spooky Effects......~

Take about 15 missionaries carving pumpkins:

Add some memories and silliness, along with cool weather and rain:

And you get the most beautiful outcome:



Thank you Idaho Boise Missionaries!

~'Tis a Good Mail Day!~

I received my copy of 'A PRIMITIVE PLACE' today in the mail - but I am WAITING to break the cellophane and read it! Very soon, our family is taking a plane trip to Illinois and driving thru Indiana and into Ohio - this is my airplane reading material. I may cause Security to confiscate the magazine though - they may see that on the x-ray machine and decide it is such a GREAT magazine it could cause a 'mob' to form!!!!!!!!

Does anyone have any 'highly recommended' places to visit in Indiana or Ohio? Primitive Shops? Quilt Shops? Antique Shops? Being from Idaho, there is a serious shortage of these out here..... I am so anticipating my travels and time with family in the Midwest.

And we have managed to get some new family photos since our son has return from his LDS Mission - still picking out our favorites for Christmas Cards (it really is not that far away), but we had so much fun.....




It is definitely Fall outside in the Pacific Northwest - one of the most beautiful I have seen here in Idaho in a long time. Windy and in the low 50's today - chili and cornbread tonight. Then I have some quiet time by myself this evening - time to sit by the fire and READ!

Blessings on your Fall Evenings!

Shanda

~ Tis THE Day............~

This is the day our son comes home after serving for two years in the California Ventura Mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Needless to say, I am a little emotional. So I decorated yesterday. That helped my soul a bit! Enjoy the photos, and Happy Fall!







Blessings on this First of Fall Day!

Shanda

~Tis the End of Summer via Simple Pleasures!~

Simple things don't have to be things, although sometimes they are. Family, friends, and memories, are what simple pleasures are to me. We have had time spent at the close of the summer with all of these, family, friends, and memories. I couldn't ask for a more faith-filled life and am blessed to be able to share with you some of our end of the summer memories:

Our daughter making her way off to school. We were LOADED! In the cool-whip container is her pet turtle. Um, yah, that one I wasn't going to take care of......


One of my six fruit trees that bore fruit for the first time. Apples, pears, nectarines, cherries. It is a little tree, but mighty in growth......

A HUGE 'friends' camping trip. Life is GREAT with friends like these........


A special order from Farm House Primitives.........


A really fun trip with our missionaries to an old ghost town in the mountains of Idaho. And check out the beautiful architecture that existed. Beautiful............

My husband started his 12th year of teaching. He wanted a new Disney Cars tie, so I made him one.......

And I got a new bike at the end of the summer sales. I haven't had a bike since I was a kid, so this is a huge simple pleasure to me. I just wanted to 'cruise' around the neighborhood. I am having a blast! My husband picked it out - said it was so appropriate for me 'cause it had quilting motifs on the fenders. I am just glad it didn't have pin striped 'flames'..........



Hope your summer is ending well, and take time to enjoy the geese flying overhead, the low sunsets, and hugging a loved one. These moments are so fleeting. I am preparing myself for a flood of emotions that have also come over me as I prepare to welcome home our son.

Blessings on your day!

Shanda

~Can someone please get me my smelling salts.........~

I can't breath....... it came in my mailbox today....... oh, if I can only make it to my chair to read it cover to cover.......... I'm stumbling in the front door........ okay, I can make it to the chair....... it came, it came, it came......... oh goodie! I can't stand it...... I can't believe it is here....... deep breath........ I'm getting a little fuzzy, can't see straight........ focus, girlfriend....... Okay, I made it to the chair........ relax....... turn the cover open....... WOWWZERS! I AM OUT FOR THE COUNT!!!! IT IS BEAUTIFUL! CONGRATULATIONS APP!!!!! Subscriber for life!

~Faith, Family, and Friends~

Faith ~
This summer, 223 years ago, 55 men spent the summer sweltering in Philadelphia hammering out our Constitution. In the beginning, these delegates were arguing amongst one another, selfish, and were at an impasse on the form of government our country should have. Then, after 5 weeks, around the end of June, the most amazing thing happened. Benjamin Franklin arose and proposed they should begin each morning with a prayer, that they importune the Lord for strength, inspiration, and guidance. He said, "That God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aide?" After this simple, yet humble and acknowledging act of prayer began, these men worked with one another, not against. No man esteemed himself above another. They were being led by inspiration to build a government that to this day is the longest lasting in the World. This is a beautiful example of Faith.


Family~
I was able to pick up my young cousins from Alaska at the airport and deliver them to the horse camp van that would whisk them up into the mountains of Idaho. We had one brief night together, so we took in the Capital Building in downtown Boise. Sorry girls for being a little late at the airport - I was only following the security officers directions (long story)!






Family is SOOOOOOOO important- keep all your family members safe and hold them close!


Friends ~
I am blessed to have some wonderful friends! And I times I feel like I could go back in time and make more friends:


What a blessing we have in Faith, Family, and Friends, some of the most important ingredients of the summer, and all year long!

Blessings on your Day!

Shanda